About Hakea amplexicaulis R.Br.
Hakea amplexicaulis R.Br. is an upright, straggly shrub that reaches 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 ft) in height. It has smooth smaller branches and forms a lignotuber. Its leaves are narrowly egg-shaped or fully egg-shaped, measuring 3–18 cm (30–200 mm) long and 20–65 mm (0.8–3 in) wide. The stem-clasping leaves have sharp teeth that are 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long along each side, with 12–30 teeth per side. Leaves are smooth, bluish-green, and covered in a powdery film. The inflorescence holds 36 to 42 large, rounded, strongly scented flowers on a short stem. Clusters of white, cream, pink, or red flowers grow in leaf axils, and these flowers may develop a pink or reddish hue as they age. The pedicel is 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. The perianth is smooth, 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, white and occasionally marked with a pink tinge, and the style is smooth. The fruit is egg-shaped, 3–3.5 cm (1–1 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide. It is smooth with a few sharp spines, and tapers to a blunt beak. Flowering occurs from August to November. This species is found in jarrah forests from Perth to Albany. It grows in clay, loam, and gravelly acidic soils, in well-drained locations with full sun or partial shade. It is a showy shrub, provides good wildlife habitat, and is moderately frost hardy.
